Strand handling apparatus



June 6, 1939. L. WEAVER 2,161,494

STRAND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8. 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

lNl ENTOR L. L. WEAVER ATTORNEK June 6, WEAVER 2,161,494

S TRAND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR y LL. WEAVER Patented June 6,1939 g 7 2,161,494

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 2,161,494 STRAND HANDLING APPARATUS Leo L. Weaver, Cranford, N. J., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January s, 1938, Serial No. 183,945

23 Claims. (01. 57-58) This invention relates to a strand handling ap- The lower portion of the bevelled gear 23 houses paratus and more particularly to an apparatus a bearing 35 which is disposed concentric with a for intertwisting strands over a core. tubular member 36, the latter extending freely Objects of the invention are to provide a spool into the hollow shaft l8 and having its lower end .1 lock and stop control for a strand handling apsecured in an aperture in the housing 20. The 5 paratus. bearing 35 rests upon a collar 31 of the tubular With these and other objects in view the inmember 36 and with the bearing 2| rotatably vention contemplates a rotary unit supporting in supports the hollow shaft. mvertical alignment a plurality of strand supply In a centrally bored aperture in the upper end reels removably locked in place by elements assoof the hollow shaft I8 is disposed a block 40 rociated with a lever to secure the unit against rotatably supported therein a sheave 4| and grooved tation when it is desirable to remove one or more to provide a passageway 42 communicating at its "of the reels, the lever also responding to a loose lower end with the tubular member 36, extending or broken strand to stop the unit. around the sheave 4| and outwardly in a hori- Other objects and advantages will be apparent zontal plane where it communicates with an aper- 5 from the following detailed description taken in ture 43. The aperture 43 is formed by cutting a conjunction with the accompanying drawings, groove in the upper edge of the hollow shaft is. wherein The block 40 projects upwardly into an aperture Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view 45 to aid in aligning the base member I4 with the of the apparatus, portions thereof being shown shaft |8 during assembly and to assist in formj in section; ing a more positive connection I between these Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view members. taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; The ends and center portion of the base mem- Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective ber l4 have their upper surfaces in a common '-25 View illustrating a portion of the control mechaplane, the center portion being indicated at 4B 'nism; has a groove 49 cut therein at right angles to Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective the longitudinal center line of the base member, view illustrating a reel supporting mechanism; the side walls of this groove being arcuate shaped Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram illustrating the 0011- at their centers as indicated at 49 (Fig. 4) In the trol circuit, and groove 48 a retaining lug 5 is removably dis- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a posed, this lug having flat side walls 5| slidably reel supporting element. receivable in the groove 48 and arcuate end walls Referring W t e wings, numeral II] in- 52 similar in general contour to the arcuate walls dicates generally a rotary unit composed of spaced 49 and arranged to be moved into registration vertically extending angle members and I2 setherewith. The lug 50 is secured to or formed in- Cllred at their pp ends to a head membe '3 tegral with a locking bar 53. The vertical dimenand at their lower ends to a base member M. sion of the lug 5B is less than the depth of the Affixed to the base member M and project groove 48 so that by rotating the locking bar 53 downwardly therefrom is a hollow shaft !8 rsfor one half a revolution to align a bar with the 10 duced at one portion to support a disk-like cover groove 48 as shown in Fig. 4, the bar with the lug IQ for a housing 2|! and reduced at another pormay drop downwardly until the lug rests upon tiOn for receiving a roller bearing 2!, the latter the bottom of the groove Extending vertically being p ed in the pp portion 0f the hOlJS- through an aperture in the lug 5!! is a spindle 55 i 20 n vin to rotatably upport the hollow arranged torotate therein but held against dis- 1 Sl'lfstfi; I8. Mounted upon the lower End Of the placement in one direction by a, retaining spring hollow shaft and disposed in the housing 29 is a 56 disposed in the lower end f the Spindle: and bevelled gear 23 which intermeshes with a bev' in the opposite direction by a reel supporting disk c gear 24 of a shaft 25 rotated by motor 51 fixedly mounted upon the spindle. Beneath when energlzed' A brake drum or Wheel 38 Is the reel supporting disk 51 and rigidly mounted "50 fixedly mounted upon the shaft 25 and has assou I pon the locking bar 53 1s a stationary disk 6|) Hated therewlth brake 1 held away supporting a friction washer 6| the latter pro- 0 b l li fgil in tg ir iti m stg gn gsg efx i e i fig ig Viding a stationary friction support for the disk The spindle 55, for removably receiving a b ak drum b a tension 5 ring 33 when the sole- C55 o deeneggizfi L p supply reel 63, carries a leaf spring 64 positioned .55

- to engage the inner peripheral wall of the hub of the reel to hold the reel against displacement and hasits upper end reduced as at 65 so as to be removably disposed in an aperture 66 of a cross member 61.

The rotary unit I may be constructed to support any desired number of supply reels 63, in the present instance there being six, the lowermost reel being supported by the base member I5, and a cross member 6'! is provided for each of the other reels to position them in vertical alignment between the angle members II and I2. The cross members 61 have itheirouteraenfds fixed to the angle members ,with their center portions being provided with grooves '48 .with arcuate shaped wall portions '49, the .same ,as previously described for the base member I4. In each of these grooves 48 :are.disposed stop pins ID for a purpose hereinafter described. Another cross member I2, extending between the angle members II and. I32 qwithfits ends secured: thereto,

is positioned above the uppermost cross member 1.61 and-has gan gaperture 13 in the center thereof, and in alignment *with similar sapertures iin the cross mem1bers '61, jfor removably -receivi-ng the -reducedend5 of'thespindle :55. .In this cross memberis rotatably mounteda sheave I4. :Vertically movable rods I in the;hollow*portions ,of the angle members al I and I2 extend vertically .throughapertures in the ends of the 4 cross -mem- :bersIi'I and FIZ-andhave their ends movably disposed -in apertures in 'the head member I9 and basemember I4. -Slidablydisposed uponthesrods .15 between "the cross jmembers -61 and 12 are sleeves 16 -(Fig. 1) having enlargedcircular portions :71 at the-bases thereof and enlarged -circularportions -18 adjacent the upper ends thereof. In Fig. 1 one-of the sleeves "I6 is shown with the circular portion 11 resting upon the base member I4 and urged downwardly by a helical compression spring-80 disposed .concentric with .reel positioned. Means is .provided for moving eral contour and secured in a recessed :portion 95 of the head member I3. Inwardly projecting legs 98 of the latches 92 carrystubshafts for rotatably supporting sheaves 99. Some of the projections I00 pivotally support other latches IOI which are identical in construction with the latches 92 and. have sheaves 99 rotatably mounted upon inwardly projecting leg portions 98 thereof. Thelatch supporting element 94 has a hollow cylindrical journal I04 extending vertically through the head :member I3 and rotatably disposed-in abearing I05. In the hollow portion of the journal I04 is disposed a switch controlling element I01 having a passageway I08 therethrough, the passageway being conical in shape adjacent the lower end thereof. At the lower end of the switch control III! are latch engaging teeth IIO positioned to be engaged by the latches 92 and NH. The upper end of the switch controlling element I91 extends through the journal I 99 and has a collar III mounted thereon with its lower surface-resting in an annular groove in the journal I94. Opposite side walls .I I2 of the collar III are flattened while the portions between the flat walls are arcuate shaped.

Ai-SWifiCh actuating lever II3 pivotally mounted at II is normally urged into close engagement 'with one ofthe walls II2 of the collar by means .ofaspring I-I5.to hold the collar and the switch actuating element I9? against rotation unless the: element .isoperatively connected to the rotary unit .IEI through one of the latches 92 or II. The end of the lever I I3 farthest from the collar III .is positioned to engage: a switch I I-8 :for amovingytheswitch into open position when the :collar is rotated due to'the operative-engagement :of :the element It? with the rotary unit I0. The switch IItlis shown in-the wiring :diagram (Fig. 5) in one side of a circuit, represented s.byzconductors :I 29 and I2! for supplying :electrical .energy to the solenoid'32 and motor '26'when" closed. The-conductor I2Il leacls'to the switch I I8 and from the switch a conductor I22 leads to the solenoid 32. From the solenoid -32 a conductor "I23 leads to one terminal of the-motor 26,'the

other terminal of the motorbeing electrically connected to the conductor I-2I. The switch IIB is'shown in both Figs. 1 and 5 in closed position, thus completing a circuit from I20 through-the switch, the solenoid and the motor, causingthe solenoid to be energized, holding the brake-lever put of engagement with the brake wheel 30 against the tension of the spring 33 when the motor is energized to operate the apparatus. Should the collar III be rotated, the lever 'I I3 -will be :moved about its pivot, moving the switch H9 intoopen position, breaking the circuit Zfor deenergizing the solenoidand the -motor, allow-;

ing the spring 33 to move the brake lever 31 :into engagement with the brake wheel-39 to stop'the rotation of the apparatus.

Although Fig. 1 is broken and only illustrates one supply reel 63 it is to be understood that in this embodiment of the invention six supply reels 63 may be disposed in the rotary unit I0. It is possible, of course, to construct the apparatus to support any desired number of supply reels. These reels are each mounted upon 'a spindle .55 carried by a locking bar 5.3 supplied with a disk 69,'a friction ring or washer GI and a reel supporting disk 51. Each reel unit is removably inserted in its respective position, the lowermost reel unit being supported by the base member I4 while the other reel units are .supported by the cross members 61. At each reel positioned there are two locking sleeves I6 positionedone upon each side upon the rod I5. The outer ends of each locking bar 53 are concaved in general contour to conform to the periphery of their respective collars H of the sleeves 16.

Therefore, when the locking bars are in locked positions their ends engage the collars 1-1, to

,hold the bars against rotation and the arcuate walls 52 of the lugs 59 are in engagement with the arcuate walls 49 to hold the bars against lateral movement. To remove one of the reels the levers 85 are actuated to move the bars I35 upwardly, moving the pins 81 away from the sleeves 16 so that the selected sleeves for the reel which is to be removed may be manually moved upwardly, moving the collars 71 free of the ends of the selected locking bar 53. When this has been done, springs I25, which have one of their ends fixed to their respective vertical members II and I2 and extend partially around the collars 11, move beneath the collars, to hold the sleeve in raised position, and urge the looking bar 53 out of registration with the collar. The locking bar is then free to be rotated until the flat walls 5| of the lug 50 are aligned with the straight side walls of the groove 48 at which position the bar with its lug may drop into the groove a sufficient distance to cause the upper portion 65 of the spindle 55 to be removed from its aperture 66 and allow the reel unit to be removed from the apparatus.

A core I28 which is to be covered is threaded upwardly through the tubular member 36 around the sheave 4| through'the aperture 43 around a sheave I30 rotatably supported by the base member I4 upwardly to and around a sheave I3 I rotatably supported by the upper cross member I2, over to and around the sheave I4 and upwardly through the hollow switch controlling ele ment I01. The strands from the six supply reels are fed to a point I32 where they are wound around the core I28 during advancement of the latter. In Fig. 2 it will be observed that the sheaves 99 supported by the latches 02 and IN extend radially from the axis of the advancing core I28. Rotatably mounted upon the undersurfaces of the radially extending lugs I00 are sheaves I35 to I40 inclusive, for receiving covering strands I42 from the reels 63. Groups of sheaves I45 and I46 are rotatably mounted on the vertical members II and I2 respectively, so that strands I42 from three of 'the supply reels may be fed upwardly along one side of the rotary unit and strands from the other three supply reels may be fed upwardly along the other side of the unit. Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that the strand I42 from the supply reel shown is fed from the reel around one of the sleeves I6 over to and around a sheave I48 where the strand is directed upwardly to the center sheave in the group I45. From this sheave it is directed to the sheave I31 around which it passes to its associated sheave 99 to the point I32 where it is wrapped around the advancing core. The strands from the other reels are threaded in a similar manner to their respective sheaves I35, I36, I38, I39 and I40 from Where they are directed over their respective sheaves 99 to the wrapping point I32.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When the supply reels 63 are locked in place, their respective strands threaded to the twisting point I32 and suitably twisted upon the core I28 which has been threaded through the apparatus, the apparatus may be set for operation by the manual closing of the switch II8, moving it into position adjacent the lever H3. The lever I I3 will hold the control element I0! against rotation due to its engagement with one of the flat walls IIZ by the aid of the spring H5. During the operation of the apparatus the covered core may be advanced by any suitable means such as a power driven take-up reel (not shown) and while the core is advanced the strands I42 will be continuously and uniformly applied thereto. If one of the strands I42 should break or become loose, as in the case when a reel is emptied, the

strandh'as been passing and which, during the operation of the apparatus has been held upwardly by the strand to hold its respective latch 92 or IOI away from the teeth IIO of the stationary control unit I0I, will allow its latch to move downwardly about its pivot to a position where it will engage with one of the teeth IIO, operatively connecting the element I0! with the rotary unit I0 and causing a unitary rotation thereof. Rotation of the element I0I will immediately move the lever II3, against the force of the spring II5, about its pivotactuating the switch M8 to break the circuit to the solenoid 32 and motor 26 deenergizing these electrical units, allowing the spring 33 to move the lever 3I into engagement with the brake drum 30 to stop the rotation of the unit I0. When the apparatus is at rest the rods I5 may be raised as hereinbefore described to remove the empty reel. When all the rods l5 are in their raised positions the latches 02 associated therewith are held in engagement with the element I01, through its teeth IIO, to safeguard the operator, while reconditioning the apparatus for operation, by making it impossible to operate the apparatus through the actuation of the switch II8.

When the apparatus is at rest the broken strand may be mended or the empty reel may be removed and a full reel inserted in its place, the strand ofthe full reel being threaded over the proper sheaves and secured in any well known manner to the strand of the previous reel. It is not necessary to raise the rods 15 in order to mend a broken strand but by raising either one or both the rods, they serve as a safety means by locking the rotary unit Ii'l against operation.

However, to replace an empty reel with a full one therods I5 must be raised in order to move the sleeves I6, adjacent the empty reel, to move the collars IT thereof free of the bar 53. The bar with the empty reel may be rotated until it is aligned with the groove 48 and when in-this position it will drop into the groove until the lug 50 engages the bottom wall thereof. The downward movement of the bar is sufficient to free the upper end of the spindle and the reel unit may then be removed. After the empty reel has been replaced by a full reel the reel unit may be inserted in place in the rotary unit in just the reverse order.

The embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are illustrative only and may be widely modified and departed from in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit, means for rotating the unit, a reel support rotatably disposed in the unit, means for locking the reel support in the unit, and means rendered effective by the movement of the locking means to unlock the reel support for rendering ineffective the rotating means.

2. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit, means for rotating the unit, a plurality of reel supports removably disposed in the unit, means for locking the reel supports in the unit, and means rendered effective by the movement of one of the locking means to unlock one of the reel supports for rendering ineffective the rotating means.

3. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit, means forrotating the unit, a reel support sheave 99 around which the loosened or broken'rotatably disposed in the unit, means for locking the reel support in the unit, means rendered effective by the movement of the locking means to unlock the reel support for rendering ineffective the rotating means, and means for holding the locking means in unlocked position.

4. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit, means for rotating the unit, a reel support rotatably disposed in the unit, means for locking the reel support in the unit, means rendered effective by the movement of the locking means to unlock the reel support for rendering ineffective the rotating means, means for holding the locking means in unlocked position, and means for moving the reel support out of locked position.

5. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit, means for rotating the unit, a reel support rotatably disposed in the unit, means for locking the reel support in the unit, means rendered efiective by the movement of the locking means to unlock the reel support for rendering effective the rotating means, and means for holding the locking means in unlocked position, the reel support being movable into engagement with the holding means for rendering the holding means i'nefiecti've.

6. In a strand handling apparatus, a normally stationary hollow element, a rotary unit rotatable about the element, means carried by the unit for directing strands through the element, means for rotating the unit, means associated with the directing means to cause the element to rotate should one of the strands break, and means actuated by the rotation of the element to render the rotating means inefiective.

7. In a strand handling apparatus, a normally stationary hollow element, a rotary unit rotatable about the element, means carried by the unit for directing strands having a predetermined tension through the element, means for rotating the unit, means associated with the directing means to cause the element to rotate should the tension of one of the strands vary, means actuated by the rotation of the element to render the rotating means ineffective, and means for locking the element to the unit.

8. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit for applying strands to an advancing core, means for rotating the unit, an element carried by said unit, means normally holding the element against rotation with the unit, means rendered effective by the breaking of one of the strands 'for causing rotation of the element, rotation of the element causing movement of the holding means, and means responsive to the movement of the holding means for rendering the rotating means ineffective.

9. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit having a grooved member, a reel spindle, a reel support secured to the spindle and having a projection receivable in the groove of the member to secure the support to the member.

10. In 'a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit having a grooved member, a reel spindle, a reel support secured to the spindle and having a projection receivable in the groove of the member to secure the support to the member, the association of the portion of the element and the groove being such that rotative relative movement of the element will cause an interlocking relation between the element and the member.

11. Ina strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit having an apertured member and a grooved member, a reel spindle having one end receivable in the aperture of the apertured member, a reel having a projection receivable in the grooved member, and means for limiting lateral movement of the spindle and the element relative to the member to align the spindle with the aperture.

12. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit having an apertured member and a grooved member, a reel spindle having one end receivable in the aperture of the apertured member, a reel supporting element secured to the spindle and having a projection receivable in the grooved member, and means for limiting movement of the spindle and the element in one direction relative to the member to align the spindle with the aperture, movement of the spindle'and element in another direction causing the spindle to enter the aperture and rotative movement of the element causing an interlocking relation between the element and the grooved member.

13. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit having an apertured member and a grooved member, a reel spindle having one end receivable in the aperture of the apertured member, a reel supporting element secured to the spindle and having a projection receivable in the grooved member, means for limiting lateral movement of the spindle and the element relative to the member to align the spindle with the aperture, vertical movement of the spindle and element causing the spindle to enter the aperture and rotative movement of the element causing an interlocking relation between the element and the grooved member, and means for holding the element in the locked position against rotation.

14. In a strand handling apparatus, a plurality of spindles, supporting elements for the spindles, and a plurality of spaced parallel members conditioned to receive in interlocking association between successive pairs thereof one of the elements and spindles.

15. In a strand handling apparatus, a plurality of spindles, supporting elements for the spindles, a plurality of spaced parallel members conditioned to receive in interengaging association between successive pairs thereoi one of the elements and spindles, and means carried by the members for securing the elements against displacement.

1'6. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit having a plurality of spaced members apertured to receive the ends of spindles, reel supporting spindles receivable in the apertures of successive pairs of themembers, radially projecting elements carried by the spindles, and latches movably disposed between the members for securing the elements against displacement.

17. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit having a plurality of spaced members apertured to receive the ends of spindles/reel supporting spindles receivable in the apertures of successive pairs of the members, radially projecting elements carried by the spindles, a rod disposed in apertures in the members, and spring pressed sleeves movable on the rod between the members to hold the elements against displacement. I

18. In a strand handling apparatus, a rotary unit having a plurality of spaced members apertured to receive the ends of spindles, reel supporting spindles receivable in the apertures of successive pairs of the members, radially projecting elements carried by the spindles, a rod disposed in the apertures in the members, spring pressed sleeves movable on the rod between the supporting element secured to the spindle andmembers to hold the elements against displacement, means for rotating the unit, said rod being movable relative to the members, and means controlled by the movement of the rod for rendering ineffective the rotating means.

19. In a strand handling apparatus, supporting elements for strand supply reels, a rotary unit having means for removably supporting the elements in general alignment, means for rotating the unit, means for directing an advancing. core, means for directing strands from the reels to the advancing core, means actuated when one of the strands runs out for rendering ineffective the rotating means, means for holding the elements against displacement, and means actuated by the movement of one of the holding means to free an element for the removal of one of the reels for locking the said actuated means.

20. In a strand handling apparatus, a normally stationary element, a rotary unit, means to rotate the unit, means to direct a strand relative to the unit, means associated with the directing means to connect the element for rotation with the unit, and means actuated by the rotation of the element to render the rotating means inefiective.

21. In a strand handling apparatus, a normally stationary element, a rotary unit, means to rotate the unit, a member for directing a strand relative to the unit mounted for rotation with the unit and for movement into engagement with the element to cause rotation of the element with the unit, the member being movable free of the element by the strand, and means actuated by the rotation of the element to render the rotating means ineffective.

22.1w a strand handling apparatus, a plurality of spindles, means to support the spindles in general alignment for the selective removal thereof including supporting elements for the spindles, and a plurality of spaced parallel members conditioned to removably receive the elements and spindles in interlocking association between successive pairs thereof.

23. In a strand handling apparatus, a plurality of spindles, means to support the spindles in general alignment for the selective removal thereof including supporting elements for the spindles, a plurality of spaced parallel members conditimed to removably receive the elements and spindles in interlocking association between successive pairs thereof, and means to secure the elements against removal movable to condition the elements and their spindles for removal.

LEO L. WEAVER. 

